28 May 2011

Spain claim the EBSL Bern 2011 cup!

A victory over Switzerland makes La Roja already unattainable in the table of this first stage. In Division B, Ukraine beat Norway

Spain have managed a new brilliant victory that has secured them the final first place in this Euro Beach Soccer League – Bern 2011. After bending hosts Switzerland (4-5), La Roja stays on top of the table in Division A, having already beaten the two teams who could attain their six points. So, mathematically, with one matchday yet to be played, the cup belongs to the Spaniards.

Cristian Torres raised an early opened to signal the way for his teammates. The 0-1 was stuck in the score for almost the whole first period, and it was not until the last minute that Rodrigues leveled things with the 1-1. After the break, Spain managed to step ahead again, thanks to a brilliant finish by Pajón, but there came the Swiss bomber to the rescue, and with two true-striker moves, he turned the score around. His left canon was ready to help Switzerland keeping the lead, to reach the decision day on top of the table. Spain, though, was not to fold their hands, and Nelson finally found the way to the Alpine net after getting rid of his marker for the equalizer.

That was not the end of the road for Spaniards, and Nelson again and Juanma made things almost impossible for their opponents with two great hits from a mid-range distance. Stankovic hit again turning the last minute into a really nerves-breaking sixty seconds, but the hosts could not neutralize the advantage, and Spain ended the match as the brilliant champions of this Euro Beach Soccer League 2011 stage of Bern.

Italy have recovered their self-esteem with a power display over newcomers Turkey that gives them all options to claim the cup tomorrow in this Euro Beach Soccer League - Bern 2011. Although their opponents stepped into the game with a huge determination, and made things really difficult for them in the first two periods, a devastating third leg gave the Azzurri the three points. The Turkish manner of getting into the game proved successful again. Right from the kick-off, the Ottoman pushed, pushed and pushed looking fo the opener that would sweep them ahead. And they found it, thanks to Kerem. Only seconds afterwards, Adil would widen the gap, but Leghissa’s header would make it 1-2 within the very same minute of the first period.

After that moment, the Azzurri began catching up with the match intensity and the Turkish pace, and Di Maio and Palmacci turned the score around. That took the fixture to where Italians love it to be, because they perfectly know how to handle things when being on top. They left Turkey the possession of the ball for them to concentrate in equalizing the game, and waited for their moment to try to finish the game with a counter-attack. But the traditional formula worked not that well this time and Erhan took advantage of a ball stolen by Ayhan to raise the 3-3 in the last minute of that second period.

Although that effort, Italy reached the last period in a much better shape, and finally knocked the Ottoman with six goals in that last 12 minutes. Although Erhan equalized Feudi’s goal, Ramacciotti, Leghissa and Soria, in two occasions, with the involuntary assistance by Yücel, destroyed the Turkish expectations. Despite their defeat yesterday, Italy has still chances to raise the cup in this EBSL Bern 2011. They’ll need to beat Switzerland tomorrow to do so, though.

Again Norway turned into a more difficult to overcome obstacle than expected. This time, it was no less than the current European Qualifier champions, Ukraine, the ones to suffer to get the three points against the enthusiastic Norse. And they could do it only with a one-goal difference, and seeing how the Vikings had a couple of chances to send the time into the extra time. Anyway, what counts for Ukraine is that they have achieved the victory in their very first game in the European League, and their first step towards their main goal, getting into the Promotion final to fight for a Division A slot next year, is already secured.

As they did in their first match against Israel, Norway managed to get 2-0 ahead, thanks to keymen Sorens and Salveson. This time, though, they were even able to stay ahead until the third period, in which Yevdokimov, with his second goal, and Loskutov turned things around for the definitive 2-3. Although the bitter circumstances, the Norse kept on believing, and enjoyed two golden chances to equalize the score in the very last minutes. Unhappily for them, the ball ended outside Gladchenko’s nets, and the points stayed at Ukrainian hands.

Figures will say that Norway was left with no points in this Euro Beach Soccer League stage in Bern, but the truth is that their opponents needed to do a great effort for this to happen. The work of new coach Andrea Sabolino began to be noticed already in Bern.